Principles
- While promoting the economic development
of offshore oil and gas reserves, all activities undertaken by
Industry in the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf
beyond the Territorial Sea, will be carried out in an environmentally
responsible, open and transparent manner.
- Operators undertake
to conduct all activities to the standard of a Reasonable and
Prudent Operator, and undertake to ensure such standards extend
to all aspects of their operations including environmental management
principles and practices pertaining to the Exclusive Economic
Zone and Continental Shelf beyond the Territorial Sea.
- Absence
of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason
to postpone cost–effective measures to prevent environmental
degradation.
- While undertaking petroleum exploration, development
and production activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone and
Continental Shelf beyond the
Territorial Sea, Industry shall adopt and apply the best practicable
options to minimise or prevent adverse effects on the environment.
In particular, such activities shall be conducted to minimise
and where practicable avoid significant adverse impacts and/or
effects
on :
- the marine environment, including marine habitats and
communities
- the distribution, abundance and productivity
of species, in particular endangered or threatened species or
populations of such species
- air and water quality.
- Consideration
should also be given to:
- the efficient use of energy, water,
materials and transport
- appropriate waste management procedures
for the prevention, minimisation, recycling, treatment and disposal
of waste
- life-cycle impacts of procurement decisions
- appropriate
procedures to avoid off–shore installations introducing exotic
organisms by fouling and ballast water
- appropriate procedures
to avoid any exotic organisms being transferred around New Zealand’s coastal marine environment by hull fouling on service vessels.
- The Government
is responsible for policies and regulations that support sustainable
development. Industry shall use these Guidelines in alignment
with the applicable policies and regulations (refer to Annex
2). [Annex 2 provides an overview of legislation, guidelines and policies that may apply to the Industry in the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf beyond the Territorial Sea.]
